Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2016, 2 (4), 631-634; doi: 10.3329/ajmbr.v2i4.31007 Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research ISSN 2411-4472 (Print) 2412-5571 (Online) www.ebupress.com/journal/ajmbr Article Productive and reproductive performances and expected response to selection of second generation of quail varieties conserved at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Shakila Faruque 1 , Md Yousuf Ali 1* , A.K.H. Fazlul Haque Bhuyian 2 , Ziaul Faruque Joy 3 and Md. Ataul Goni Rabbani 1 1 Poultry Production Research Division, BLRI, Savar, Dhaka-1341, Bangladesh 2 Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202, Bangladesh 3 Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh * Corresponding author: Md. Yousuf Ali, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Regional Station, Shahjadpur, Sirajgonj, Bangladesh. E-mail: 113yousuf.bau@gmail.com, myousuf@blri.gov.bd Received: 03 November 2016/Accepted: 29 November 2016/ Published: 29 December 2016 Abstract: Individual selection is particularly indispensable in selection experiments for body weight in quail. Body weight is highly heritable trait. The study was conducted with the objective to assess the productive and reproductive performance and expected response to selection of second generation (G 2 ) of four quail varieties conserved at Bangladesh livestock Research Institute. At 5 th week of age, quails of first generation (G 1 ) were selected on the basis of breeding value according to their 5 th week body weight. A total of 1953-day-old chicks were hatched in two batches for producing second generation (G 2 ). Diet containing 24% crude protein and 3000 kcal ME/kg were provided to the birds. The data were analyzed in a CRD factorial arrangement by General Linear Model (GLM) Univariate Procedure in SPSS Computer Program. The highest fertility was observed in White (98.31%) variety and hatchability was in Japanese (97.75%) variety. Differences in chick weight at hatch between White and Brown, Brown and Japanese, Japanese and Black, Black and White were approximately 6.90%, 2.74%, 6.20% and 10.51% respectively. The effect of variety and batch on 5 th week body weight was significant (p<0.001) but interaction effect of variety and batch was not significant (p>0.05). Black quail had significantly (χ 2 = 25.00; p<0.01) higher (17.62%) chick mortality than that of other three varieties. As a result of selection, body weight at 5 th weeks of age was expected to improve by 4.34g vs. 6.51g; 1.21g vs. 4.33g, 1.68g vs. 3.77g and 1.02g vs. 2.40g respectively for Japanese, White, Brown and Black males and females quail genotypes. It is therefore can be concluded that the White variety is superior in terms of higher body weight and higher fertility and medium chick mortality among the four quail varieties. In each generation, slight response was obtained for selection. Keywords: quail; variety; selection; response 1. Introduction The journey of commercial poultry industry in the country has been launched over three decades ago. Over sixty millions of people are directly or indirectly involved with poultry farming. People keep mainly broilers and layers for eggs and meat production both in large and small scale. But such type of farming requires huge cost involvement. Considering this, people are getting involved with quail farming having rapid returns and require very low investment. But little attention has been paid upon the latest domesticated poultry species-quail applying appropriate breeding techniques for higher meat and egg yield although wild type Japanese quails were first introduced in the country at around 1980s and prevailing for decades. Considering the circumstances,